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Investigators clear Calgary police in shooting that left man in wheelchair

Morgan Thompson spat on the ground at an anti-racism rally and allegedly threatened an officer with a weapon. Then he was shot 4 times.

Provincial investigators found that a Calgary police officer did nothing wrong when he pursued and shot a man after he spat on the ground at an anti-racism rally. (Larry MacDougal / THE CANADIAN PRESS file photo)

By Bill GravelandThe Canadian Press

Thu., Nov. 24, 2016

CALGARY—The head of a unit that investigates Alberta police actions says an officer didn’t do anything wrong when he pursued and shot a man after he spat on the ground at an anti-racism rally.

A Calgary police officer shot Morgan Thompson twice on March 21, 2015, in an alley shortly after he taunted demonstrators.

Thompson, who was 30 at the time, is now permanently disabled and in a wheelchair.

“Ultimately, at the end of the day, sure, it’s terrible that a person has been paralyzed as the result of an incident that started out as spitting on the sidewalk,” Susan Hughson, executive director of the Alberta Serious Incident Response Team, said Thursday.

“But I’m sure you’re not suggesting that they’re not entitled to enforce the law, because it is a bylaw offence to spit on the sidewalk. Obviously they are entitled to give a ticket for that.”

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Thompson, who is paralyzed from the waist down, said his life will never be the same.

“I feel like I’m dead already,” he told Global TV in Calgary. “I’m 30 years old but I’m dead.

“I can’t have children normally . . . or would I even want them? Just everything now, it’s all different. It’s hard.”

He said the findings don’t surprise him.

“He felt threatened — we both felt threatened — and I should’ve just surrendered peacefully, but that’s not how I do things,” he told Global.

“He had a better weapon than me, so here I am.”

Hughson said police were trying to talk to Thompson to give him a ticket when he walked away quickly and crossed the street against the light.

Police say Thompson will not be charged.

Hughson said she would not pass judgment on whether officers should have tried to give him a ticket in the first place.

“An officer had observed an offence. At that point he’s entitled to enforce the law. Whether he should or should not have, or whether he could have exercised his discretion, that’s not my decision to make,” she said.

“I can tell you, though, it was not unreasonable to follow him and attempt to identify him.”

Hughson said when the officer initially approached the suspect, he was punched in the head and pulled out his baton. Thompson allegedly pulled out a pipe from behind his back and held it over his head. The officer pulled out his service revolver and fired four shots.

“At that point, the man clearly would have objectively presented a risk of grievous bodily harm to the officer and, as such, the officer’s use of lethal force was reasonable.”

Calgary police issued a statement welcoming the conclusion of the investigation.

“The officer involved in this shooting has and will continue to receive the full support of the Calgary Police Service,” the statement said, which added that a standard internal review will take place.

“At this time there is no evidence to indicate any breaches of policy or procedure by the member involved and he is not facing any internal discipline.

“No further comment will be available.”

There have been nine police-involved shootings in Calgary in 2016. Hughson, whose organization investigates all of them, said it’s concerning the city has more shootings this year than any other major city in Canada.

“Anyone would agree that one officer-involved shooting is too many. Why are the numbers different? There’s not a simple answer to that. It isn’t a reasonable inference to say it’s because police are shooting more,” said Hughson.

“You have to look into why police are shooting more. Is it something that should be a concern and should be reviewed and should be looked into by police services? Absolutely.”

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